fbpx
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Legal Notices
Lagniappe Mobile
  • News
    • Cover Story
    • Latest
    • Serial Stories
    • Bay Briefs
    • Community News
    • Open Documents
    • e-Edition
  • Baldwin
  • Commentary
    • Damn the Torpedoes
    • Hidden Agenda
    • Beltway Beat
    • The Real Deal
    • Weather Things
    • The Gadfly
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Cuisine
    • The Dish
    • Word of Mouth
    • Beer and Loathing
    • Cuisine Directory
  • Arts
    • Artifice
    • Art Gallery
    • The Reel World
    • Calendar
  • Music
    • Music Feature
    • Music Briefs
    • Music Listings
    • Submissions
  • Sports
    • The Score
    • The Starting Line-Up
    • From Behind The Mic
    • Upon Further Review
  • Style
    • Media Frenzy
    • Mobile Magnified
    • Horoscopes
    • Master Gardeners
    • Style Feature
  • Lagnia-POD

Select Page

County considers ‘food service’ at Government Plaza

Posted by Jason Johnson | Nov 28, 2018 | Latest, News | 0 |

Despite two unsuccessful attempts in the past, the Mobile County Commission is considering housing some type of eatery inside Government Plaza for the first time in years.

At this point, the county is only evaluating what level of interest there might be among private businesses that could offer catering services to the hundreds of employees, visitors and jurors that come through the building five days a week.

Commissioners agreed to send out a request for proposals (RFP) for “food service operations” in Government Plaza on Monday in response to what Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson said were “a lot of comments and requests from people in the building.”

“Initially, we would get into this as a catering service. Food would be prepared offsite, brought in and catered between certain hours. If it’s successful, then eventually food would be prepared on site with the possibility of adding a breakfast service as well,” Hudson said. “We’ve just heard several times that, if there was a good, plated lunch — with good food — at a reasonable cost in the building people would be excited about that.”

Hudson specifically mentioned having a dining option available to jurors hearing trials in Mobile County’s circuit and district courts. Circuit Judge Jim Patterson. who attended the commission meeting for an unrelated ceremony, expressed vocal support for the idea at the time. 

The RFP invites any restaurateur to make a proposal for a viable foodservice operation, but at this point, the only specifics are that it would serve “hot meals.” The eatery would be located east of the Government Street entrance in the same area a Starbucks coffee shop formerly operated.

Commissioner Jerry Carl voted along with Hudson to approve the RFP, but Commissioner Merceria Ludgood had concerns and cast the lone “no” vote. Noting there have been “two failed attempts” in the same space, she said she doesn’t want the county in the “restaurant business.”

Ludgood said there are some areas where government or government contractors can “undercut” costs that fall on private sector businesses, and she wouldn’t want to “disincentivize further investment in downtown” by making the county a competitor to local restaurants.

“I just see all of this happening downtown and the investment going into the restaurants in the area, and I would just hate to pull a part of their potential client base,” Ludgood said. “From what I understand, the restaurant business is hard enough in the best of scenarios.”

In response, Hudson said she didn’t view the county as a competitor in the proposed scenario because it would be operated by a private entity. She also said the county would require the business to pay “market value” for the rental of the space inside Government Plaza.

“I see it as a private enterprise, and I think competition is always good,” Hudson added. “It really only improves the market and ultimately provides a better quality of good and services.”

Ludgood said she was still “conceptionally” opposed to the idea, but added that she’d feel better if any future food service contract for Government Plaza included something to ensure the recipient stays on a level playing field with others renting space in downtown Mobile.

Carl said he supported the decision to send out the RFP because it doesn’t commit the county to anything going forward and would help determine what type of operation might be the best fit.

“I would like to see who has an interest,” he said.

The county’s interest in providing a dining option in Government Plaza comes only a few weeks after another of Government Plaza’s tenants — the city of Mobile — offered private restaurants an opportunity to set up shop in one of its downtown properties.

As Lagniappe has reported, city officials agreed earlier this month to accept proposals for waterfront dining ideas at The Galley café inside GulfQuest Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico to help boost sagging attendance numbers.

This page is available to our subscribers. Join us right now to get the latest local news from local reporters for local readers.

The best deal is found by clicking here. Click here right now to find out more. Check it out.

Already a member of the Lagniappe family? Sign in by clicking here

Share:

Rate:

PreviousCouncil moves to hire spokeswoman over Stimpson’s objections
NextLet’s get neck-ed! 

About The Author

Jason Johnson

Jason Johnson

Jason Johnson originally hails from Elba, Alabama, and graduated summa cum laude from Troy University in 2011. He’s been a reporter for Lagniappe since 2014, where he covers an array of topics with a focus on county government, local courts and education. Previously, Jason worked for the Southeast Sun (Enterprise, Alabama), the Alexander City Outlook and 94.7 WTBF FM (Troy, Alabama). He’s also been recognized by the Alabama Press Association with designations in general excellence, photography and education reporting. In his spare time, Jason is a guitarist and drummer who enjoys the benefit of regularly playing with musicians better than himself.

Related Posts

Voter fraud concerns bring Secretary of State to Mobile (updated)

Voter fraud concerns bring Secretary of State to Mobile (updated)

August 17, 2017

Transportation secretary expected in Mobile to discuss I-10 Bridge project

Transportation secretary expected in Mobile to discuss I-10 Bridge project

May 12, 2015

City releases names of Civic Center committee members

City releases names of Civic Center committee members

May 12, 2019

Mobile mayor praises new airport, county’s response to COVID-19 in speech

Mobile mayor praises new airport, county’s response to COVID-19 in speech

September 9, 2020

Recommended Stories

Symphony finale focused on American film titan

By Kevin Lee

Confusing hours don’t hurt Market

By Andy MacDonald

A few thoughts on the primaries

By Rob Holbert

Vote for a run-off in the governor’s race

By Ashley Trice

Back to the beach: Hangout Fest returns this weekend

By Stephen Centanni


  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contacts
  • Jobs
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Join the Sunday Brunch Newsletter

Search This Site

Browse the Archives

© Lagniappe Mobile 2022